Effects of cattle manure on selected soil physical properties of smallholder farms on two soils of Murewa, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The effects of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer application on soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon were determined on clay and sandy soils of the Murewa smallholder farming area, Zimbabwe. Maize was grown in four fields termed homefields (HFs) and outfields (OFs) because of spatial variability induced by management practices and with the following fertility treatments: control (no fertility amelioration), 5, 15 and 25 t/ha cattle manure + 100 kg/ha N applied annually for seven consecutive years. The addition of cattle manure resulted in significant (P < 0.01) increases in SOC, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon in clay soils from at least the 5 t/ha cattle manure rate and was comparable between HFs and OFs on clay soils. Aggregate protected carbon in clay soils was significantly higher from the 15 and 25 t/ha cattle manure rates compared to the 5 t/ha cattle manure treatment. In contrast, only SOC was significantly (P < 0.05) increased with the addition of cattle manure on the sandy soils, while bulk density, macro‐aggregate stability and aggregate protected carbon were not significantly changed. Bulk density was also not significantly (P > 0.05) different on the clay soils. A significant and positive linear relationship (r2 = 0.85) was found between SOC and macro‐aggregate stability, while an r2 value of 0.82 was obtained between SOC and aggregate protected carbon on the clay soils. However, no regressions were performed on data from the sandy soils because of the lack of significant changes in soil physical properties. Application of cattle manure and inorganic N‐fertilizer significantly increased (P < 0.05) maize grain yield on both soil types. Results show that inorganic N‐fertilizer combined with cattle manure at 5–15 t/ha per yr is necessary to increase maize yields and SOC on sandy soils in Murewa, while at least 15 t/ha per yr cattle manure is required on the clay soils to improve physical properties in addition to maize yields and SOC.

The importance and profitability of farmyard manure application to an organically managed crop rotation

“…According to Körschens et al (1998), the annual changes of the C org content amounted only to about 0.01% C org , even under extreme changes of the fertilizing system. The long-term application of FYM, as a rule, increased the C org content of the soil (Dunjana et al, 2012;Fageria, 2012;Šimon, Czakό, 2014;Blanchet et al, 2016). However, as showed by Scherer et al (2011), after 45 years of repeated applications of FYM (every second year 4.5 and 9.0 t ha -1 on a dry weight basis) the C org content did not significantly differ from the control.…”

Growth and Regrowth of Neem After Cutting in Saline - Sodic Soil Treated With Organic Inputs

“…The highest values obtained for bovine manure treated plants (Figure 1) are responses to higher nutrient concentrations compared with biofertilizers (Table 2) and to the action of manure as a soil physical conditioner. Manure provides increased porous space to the radicular system (DUNJANA et al, 2012) and improved soil fertility (BENBOUALI et al, 2013;SILVA et al, 2014), resulting in greater vegetative growth compared with soil treated with biofertilizers diluted in water. The superiority of the chemically enriched biofertilizer over the common fertiliser is due to its additional components such as plaster (a source of calcium and sulphur) (LEITE et al, 2010), cow's milk (rich in proteins, vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and zinc) (NASCIMENTO et al, 2010) and molasses (a source of sugars, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur and iron) (COPERSUCAR, 1988).…”

Physical properties of an Orthic Black Chernozem after 5 years of liquid and solid pig manure application to annual and perennial crops

“…It is possible that the greater effect of SPM will be recorded with time as the mineralization of organic C in manure is time dependent. Carter and Campbell (2006) reported no change in aggregate stability of a soil after 3 yr of LPM application, but differences in MWD as a result of manure application have been observed after 7 yr (Dunjana et al 2012).…”

“…This increase in aggregate stability could be attributed to an increase in organic C content of soil (Dunjana et al 2012) and binding agents from the added manure (Tisdall and Oades 1982). Bedding materials in solid manures contain hemicellulose and lignin, which decompose slowly (Magdoff 1993;Prescott 2005) and thus have a long-lasting effect as binding agents of soil aggregates (Celik et al 2004).…”

“…Barbosa et al (2015) reported that the application of LPM improved aggregation in an oxisol. A study by Dunjana et al (2012) on the effect of solid cattle manure on soil properties showed an increase in macroaggregate stability of clay soils following 7 yr of cattle manure application.…”